Operating a subsurface safety valve using a downhole pump
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsChidirim Enoch Ejim, Brian A. Roth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure regulator is configured to manage a pressure downstream of a pump discharge during operation. A hydraulic piston is exposed to pressure upstream of the pressure regulator during operation. The hydraulic piston extends into a first fluid reservoir. The first fluid reservoir is defined by an inner surface of an outer housing of a subsurface safety valve. A subsurface safety valve is fluidically couple to the hydraulic piston.
Claims26
A subsurface safety valve system for use with an electric submersible pump, the subsurface safety valve system comprising:
- a pressure regulator configured to manage a pressure downstream of a pump discharge during operation;
- a hydraulic piston exposed to pressure upstream of the pressure regulator during operation, the hydraulic piston extending into a first fluid reservoir defined by an inner surface of an outer housing of the subsurface safety valve;
- and
- a subsurface safety valve fluidically coupled to the hydraulic piston.
A method comprising:
- creating a pressure increase between an electric submersible pump discharge and a subsurface safety valve;
- actuating a piston upstream of a pressure regulator in response to the increased pressure upstream of the pressure regulator;
- and
- actuating the subsurface safety valve responsive to actuating the piston.
A wellbore production system comprising:
- a production string within a wellbore;
- a packer surrounding the production string, the packer sealing an annulus defined by an outer surface of the production string and an inner surface of the wellbore, the packer fluidically separating the annulus into an uphole section and a downhole section;
- an electric submersible pump positioned nearer a downhole end of the production string than an uphole end of the production string;
- a subsurface safety valve system positioned onto the production string uphole of the electric submersible pump, the subsurface safety valve system comprising:
- a pressure regulator configured to manage pressure downstream of a pump discharge during operation;
- a hydraulic piston exposed to pressure upstream of the pressure regulator during operation, the hydraulic piston extending into a first fluid reservoir;
- and
- a subsurface safety valve fluidically coupled to the hydraulic piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.